Introduction
The new generation of employees i.e. Millennials and Gen Z are very different from the previous generations. In pop culture, this new generation is often portrayed as quirky young kids who are going to destroy everything that we hold dear. This may seem like hyperbole but you’ll be surprised to know how many Boomers and Gen Xers share this sentiment.
Because Millennials and Gen Z are so different from the previous generations, they face different problems at the workplace as well. I mean, their father and grandfather didn’t have to deal with employee monitoring software.
In this article, we’re going to discuss some of these critical problems.
A Dearth of Decent Jobs
Millennials and Gen Z want annual raise and guaranteed promotion, just like everyone else. According to a survey done by Qualtrics, 77 percent would be willing to take a salary cut in exchange for long-term job security.
But, they don’t find these prospects in most jobs so they hop around and earn a bad reputation.
A Gallop poll found that sixty percent of Millennials are open to working a different job.
Lack of Work Benefits
A decent job isn’t only about the salary, the work benefits are also important.
Millennials and Gen Z want flexible work hours, some decent amount of vacation days, and tuition reimbursement. The new generation is getting desperate about their massive loans student loans so they are seeking jobs that offer at least some kind of tuition reimbursement.
Plenty of Distractions
One of the biggest weaknesses of the new generation is their inability to focus. This has caused their overall productivity is on the decline. This mostly because of the distractions they face in their daily life.
Among these distractions, the internet is the biggest and most obvious one. For example, just a simple review of the latest movie can lead you down a rabbit hole of various issues ranging from environmental issues to gender politics.
Modern problems require modern solutions. Employee time tracking tools are one such solution that can help today’s employees stay focused on work. They can also allow managers to observe the daily progression of their employees.
Not Satisfied with the Traditional Work Week
Because Millenials and Gen Z cannot find the type of work that fulfills their needs, they prefer to open their own business or work as freelancers.
Thumbtack conducted a study that found that at least forty percent Millenials plan to leave their 9 to 5 jobs and work as freelancers. The same study also found that Millenials are eager to leave their jobs to pursue their passions.
But why do they want to leave their current jobs? One theory is that they fear automation will soon make their respective careers obsolete.
Conclusion
These are just some of the workplace problems faced by Millenials and Gen Z. We should, of course, avoid generalization. Not everyone has the same mindset and there are bound to be outliers. Also, not every Millenial or Gen Z faces the same problems. It depends heavily on where they live.